Throughout the year I find myself scrambling for a costume for various school and social events. We have Book Week, Halloween, and a few events across the year for both me, Sunshine and Striker. Of course, I want to go to the best costume shop in Sydney to find something to wear.
Sadly my favourite go-to costume shop in Yagoona, Dazzling Fancy Dress Costume Hire closed down so I have been on the hunt for a costume shop where I can pull together the best look for me each Book Week and Halloween. I have found some absolute beauties!
The Best Costume Shops in Sydney
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Gone are the days where you could simply rent a costume. Globalisation has reduced the price of costumes which are readily available online these days. However, a number of stores offer rental, preloved and brand new costumes for you to grab and turn you into the character of your choice.
Costume Party
We’re always in Newtown (usually for the food and Better Read Than Dead) so it was no surprise that we would eventually come across Costume Party, the local costume shop.
Costume Party has quite an array of different costumes and they are all relatively inexpensive in comparison to some other shops, which can also mean that they are mass-produced.
Can’t make it to Newtown? No problem, they offer next business day delivery.
Address: Shop 5/546 King St, Newtown NSW
Opening Hours: Monday to Sunday | 9:30 am – 5:30 pm
Website: costume-party.com.au
C’s Flash Back
Whilst technically not a costume shop, C’s Flash Back is one of Sydney’s best second-hand clothing stores (and one of the most affordable). Dig into the racks and you may find some incredible items to add to your costume.
Address: 314 Crown St, Surry Hills
Opening Hours: 11.00 am – 6.00 pm
Website: Head to C’s Flash Back instagram for their latest news
Discount Party Warehouse
Discount Party Warehouse is one of the largest party shops we have ever visited and they have a plethora of costumes for sale across many themes and budgets. Better yet, you can try them on so you can make sure it fits!
Address: Lidcombe Shopping Centre, Shop M4, Ground Level, 92 Parramatta Road, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141 | Entry from ground level carpark Hastings St
Opening Hours: Monday to Wednesday and Friday 9.00 am to 6.00 pm | Thursday – 9.00 am – 9.00 pm | Saturday – Sunday – 9:00 am – 5:30 pm
Website: discountpartywarehouse.com.au
Fancy That! Costumes
Fancy That! Costumes was established back in 1987 by two incredible women working in the costume department of the TV classic It’s a Knockout as a way of giving the lycra numbers a second life. It was a hit and today Fancy That! Costumes is arguably one of the city’s best fancy dress shops.
If you are looking for quality costumes, Fancy That! Costumes is the place to visit offering costumes for both hire and purchase.
Address: 388 Pacific Hwy, Crows Nest NSW
Opening Hours: Open Monday to Saturday from 11.00 am | Closed Sunday
Same-day courier on hires and purchases in the Sydney area
Website: fancythatcostumes.com.au
House of Priscilla – the most stunning costumes in Sydney!
When it comes to exquisite costumes, House of Priscilla’s is your costume shop. Supplying costumes for many dance studios as well as The Aria Awards and The Logies, House of Priscilla design and create imaginative and stylish costumes and accessories that are also absolutely stunning.
New products are added to the House of Priscilla range all the time with the racks brimming with off-the-rack glamour gowns, to custom made outfits, shoes, wigs, gloves, jewelry, head pieces, wigs, make up, men’s & ladies party wear, children’s & ladies dance wear, and much more.
House of Priscilla costumes are available for both hire and purchase.
Address: 1/47 Oxford St, Darlinghurst
Opening Hours: Open Monday to Saturday 10.00 am – 6.00 pm | Open Sunday 11.00 am – 3.00 pm
Website: houseofpriscilla.com.au
Jester Fancy Dress
Jester Fancy Dress was established back in 1985 and is run by the fantastic due Lesley and Margaret. Over the last year, the team have been busy rejuvenating their stock and have created a great range for both purchase and hire (with 30 day hire).
Address: 304 Willarong Rd Caringbah South
Opening Hours: Jester Fancy Dress moved online in 2020 due to C19.
Website: www.jesterfancydress.com.au
Party Land
This family owned and operated fancy dress shop is all about providing great costumes at great prices. All stock is available for purchase (yes, no hire) with a bevy of masks, costumes and costume accessories available.
Address: 382 Oxford St, Bondi Junction | 1/14 Dover Rd, Rose Bay NSW 2029
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday and Friday 10.00 am – 6.00 pm | Thursday 10.00 am – 7.00 pm | Saturday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm | Sunday 9.00 am – 4.00 pm
Website: www.partylandonline.com.au
Party People Mega Store
This is one big party shop! The Party People is all about the party and their warehouse encompasses all aspects of items needed to host one, including costumes. Whilst their stock isn’t quite as extensive as other stores, it’s a great last minute stop especially if you are grabbing other items for your party.
Address: 73/75 Victoria Rd, Drummoyne NSW | 428-430 Rocky Point Rd. Sans Souci NSW
Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday 9.00 am – 5.00 pm | Sunday 10.00 am – 3.00 pm
Website: www.thepartypeople.com.au
Snog the Frog
This is a costume shop gem! You can find this treasure trove of costume delights behind a behind a roller door in the backstreets of Surry Hills. It’s worth finding with a plethora of gorgeous finds for hire and purchase for kids and adults.
Address: 10 Hart St, Surry Hills
Opening Hours: Monday 11.00 am – 7.00 pm | Tuesday – Wednesday 11.00 am – 5.00 pm | Thursday 11.00 am – 7.00 pm | Friday – Saturday 11.00 am – 5.00 pm
Website: www.snogthefrog.com.au
Sydney Costume Shop
The Sydney Costume shop prides itself on curating affordable and fun costumes for purchase. The owners are costume designers themselves, and stock their own range of funky accessories with their creative costumes coming soon.
Address: Shop 2, 10 Waratah Road, Engadine NSW
Opening Hours: currently closed until 18 January 2021
Website: www.sydneycostumeshop.com.au
The Wardrobe – the gem of Sydney costume shops
The Wardrobe has been dressing Sydneysiders for fancy dress parties, halloween and book week for around 50 years. This store does NOT offer pre-packaged costumes, but instead is committed to dressing its customers in preserved vintage pieces, unique hand-made clothing & accessories and rare historical replicas.
Across the warehouse, The Wardrobe has well over 20,000 individual parts and pieces. Just be mindful that they are often highly coveted so some pieces will need to be booked 6 weeks in advance.
You can hire The Wardrobe costumes.
Address: 312A High St, Chatswood NSW
Opening Hours: Monday – Wednesday and Friday 10.00 am – 5.00 pm | Thursday 10.00 am – 7.00 pm | Closed Sunday
Website: thewardrobe.net.au
Online Fancy Dress Shopping
There are many online costume shops to purchase from, but I thought it was absolutely important that I listed only stores that I have actually used.
Costume Box – sometimes I leave things to the last minute and all of a sudden the event is a day or two away. This is where the Costume Box steps in. With super fast shipping, i can rely on them to get me a costume in record time, and it always looks great!
Amazon – Amazon is also a default shop for me. As an Amazon Prime member, I receive FREE shipping on most purchases as I typically receive the item the next day unless it’s from overseas
Hot Tip: every few years, Opera Australia holds sales of props and costumes from old productions. The last one was in November 2020, but now that we know we will be on the lookout!
Pin Best Costume Shops in Sydney
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